If you want to do 3rd party billing, you need to be licensed in the state (actually I’m only familiar with the law in Hawaii, but its almost always the same in state to state).

To get licensed in the state, for example as a Marriage and Family Therapist, you need to belong to the AAMFT (the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists). To belong to the organization, you need to adhere to the code of ethics.

Once you are licensed, you may use the words “Marriage and Family Therapist” in your advertising. Specifically you are prohibited from using that exact phrase if you are not licensed.

I’m not sure what would happen if you said you were a “Marriage Hypnotherapist,” or something like that, but you would not get many referrals from the established psychological industry.

It boils down to credibility with the established order, and that’s not entirely bad.

For example, as a lay hypnotherapist you do not need to subscribe to the APA (or other organization’s) code of ethics. Also that really inexpensive malpractice insurance for hypnotherapists is replaced by a much more expensive policy for psychological professionals.

But you can get a steady stream of clients, though!!